Golden High School alum Lindsey Horan, 18, who is playing professional soccer for Paris Saint-Germain, will join the U.S. women’s national team for the March 6-13 Algarve Cup in Portugal.

New national team coach Tom Sermanni announced his choices for the 23-player roster last week, and it included many familiar names in the women’s program, but it marked the first time Horan — a standout for age-group teams in the past, including the U-20 squad — was selected for the national team.

That’s significant because of her youth and the fact that once players are selected for the national team, they tend to be regular choices for the prominent international events.

Horan last year was ticketed to attend the University of North Carolina and play for the powerhouse program there, but decided to become the first player ever to bypass the collegiate ranks to play professionally in Europe.

The U.S. schedule at the Algarve Cup includes first-round games against Iceland (March 6), China (March 8) and Sweden (March 11). The latter game will be the first meeting between the Americans and their former coach, Pia Sundhage.

EDMONTON, Alberta — In two games since returning from an eight-game injury absence, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has four points, including a goal, and multiple shots off the post or crossbar. The 22-year-old has undoubtedly re-proven that he is the Avs’ most valuable player — the player they must have in the lineup to make a legitimate playoff push.